The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-04
TARPONS IN FLORIDA.
Fishing by Moonlight, and the Capture of a
12O-Pounder.

120-Pounder.
New York Sun.
Mr. Thomas B. Asten who. w.t., Colonel Quay
is yachting and fishing in Florida waters was
interviewed the other day by the Indian River
News about his experience with tarpon, the big
fish of the land of flowers
after building my yacht" said Mr.. Asten,
with the purpose of visiting the west
coast of Florida to indulge in some lively sport
in fishing which we were informed could only
be found in that section. we changed our minds
and induced our friend, Lieutenant HEM to join
with US in trip to the east coast and try some
Of the lesser kinds of fish, such bass, trout,
sheepshead, snappers, etc Imagine our surprise
and incredulity when told by the residents that
the famous tarpon was to be found in near
vicinity, we decided to investigate The first
evening we went to the west side of the river with
our lines, hooks, smells and other parapher
MALTA to see what was to be seen. Our first
view of the beauties Immediately after
moonrise, when they were to be seen leaping
and flying through the air. mboling and play
ing. their bright, silvery scales clistening in the
moonlight, affording a scene that beggars de-
scription. We undertook the task of hooking
few of them, and, after struggling for some time
Intellectually, finally succeeded in bringing
of them up to the side of the boat apparently
exhausted; then the fun began in earnest. The
fish seemed TO realize his critical situation, and
as we failed to bring lance or spear with which
to pierce him, we were at sea, as it were, with
an elephant on our hands and no means to cap
ture him.
Inc next 0VeuluS We were luOTo IOrbuudto
We supplied ourselves with the largest and
most powerful shark hooks made smells eight
cen inches to two feet in length of Quadruple
twisted wire to prevent the monsters jaws from
getting away with our hooks and tackle. With
heavy larces with which to pierce the fish
should we catch one, We once more resorted
to the scene of action. We had learned two
| lessons-that the tackle used to catch the
west coast tarpon absolutely insufficient
and had to be substituted by the most power
| full shark tackle, and that the proper time to
| angle was by moonlight. when they had come in
| the inlets and cuts TO feed on the smaller fish
| that abound in these places at these times. The
| scene that presented itself on our arrival was
| one of most exciting interest. Here, there. and
| on all sides of were to be seen leaping and
flashing in the moonlight the elistenins forms
| of these graceful aud fearless creatures. AS we
| would cast out our lines baited with mullet they
| would be seized almost Immediately, and ere we
| could tighten our grasp the fish would dart to
| this side or that. One moment the line would
be entirely limp and apparently empty, when,
| swish, over to the right OF you would leap a
| monster eight or ten feet in the air. shaking his
| wonderfully formed head, and nine times out of
| ten the hook would 60 spinning several feet
| away strange feature of the fishs pranks
| was his attempt to grab the hook after throwing
| it from his mouth sometimes catching it before
| it struck the water.
| ''Thus the sport continued, ever watchful lest
| the line became entangled in the least with any
| part of the body. for in that case were the fish
| would run great risk of being drawn overheard,
| or being badly lacerated. The wonderful power
| possessed by these denizens of the may be
| judged from the fact that in the capture of a
| hundred FOUNDER the boat containing myself and
| assistant was drawn back and forth over dis
| lance of two miles or more This means being
employed to wear out the strength of the fish, it
| is at last drawn up to distance that will allow
| an assistant to spear him, and even then it re-
| quires considerable skill to land him in the boat
| while undergoing his last efforts and struggles.
| Lucky is he who succeeds IN getting one of these
varieties, for of all gamy fish this is considered
by seamen the most difficult TO capture"
Colonel Quay caught tarpon on the occasion
we mention which weighed l20 pounds, and
measured six feet two inches. The one capt
| ured by Mr.. Asteu measured six feet and
| weighed 100 pounds. On their return trip Mr..
| and Mrs. Asten stopped at this place for day,
| and kindly showed US through their splenddly
| equipped yacht, the Awixa This boat Is with
out doubt the finest and most convenient that
ever sailed the river; every convenience ani
commodity to be found in completely fur
nished house is right at hand, and in every con
ceivable nook and corner We discovered some
skillful device to add to the comfort Of the occu
pants The boat cost over S., 900, and measured
thirty feet over all, eleven feet beam, with
draught of twenty-seven inches. Aboard the
boat was handsome Bible. rescued from the
Inflated ocean steamer Oregon after having
been under water for more than four months
Mr.. Asten left on Wednesday for Smyrna
where he will stay a few days and then con
time his trip to ST. Augustine From the last
named place Mr.. Asten will telegraph his ex
PLOTS and success to the New York papers
where he is widely known as prominent mem
Der of the New York Yacht Club.